Federal Judge Sentences Casper Meth Ring Leader

Federal judges in Wyoming recently sentenced six men including the head of a Casper drug ring, for child pornography and methamphetamine crimes, according to a news release from the Wyoming U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson sentenced Richard Lee Wickham, 46, of Casper for conspiracy to distribute at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. He received 19 years, seven months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of probation. Wickham also was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and $1,000 in restitution.

Wickham was the head of a methamphetamine distribution ring who brought enormous quantities of methamphetamine and heroin from Colorado to sell in Casper and elsewhere in Wyoming. He rented vehicles to transport the drugs and used large magnets to conceal drugs beneath his vehicle, according to court documents.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal sentenced Dylan Tyler Carpenter, 24, formerly of Gillette for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and for using and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He received 11 years, eight months months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment and $400 in restitution.

The DCI investigated this case.

Freudenthal sentenced Chad Thomas Johnson, 35, of Newcastle for production of child pornography. Johnson received 17 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and a $1,700 fine. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

This case was investigated by the DCI's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Freudenthal also sentenced Roberto Jimenez Beltran, 50, of Casper for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Beltran was arrested in Torrington. He received three years, one month of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and $200 in restitution.

The DCI investigated this case.

U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl sentenced Dustin Allyn Lee, 37, of Carpio, N.D., for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Lee received four years, nine months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and $500 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

Skavdahl also sentenced Charles Patrick Jeffery, 39, of Kinnear for possession of child pornography. Jeffery was arrested in Lander. He received three years, four months of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and $3,000 in restitution.